Shell Beach paving at issue: Highway Superintendent defends action

Many residents of Silver Beach are at odds with Highway Department Superintendent Ken Lewis Jr. over milled asphalt that now covers about half of the sand road running on the peninsula through the dunes. 

Silver Beach Association President Doug Sherrod wrote a letter to Mr. Lewis dated last July 14 requesting removal of the paving material that he described as “really ugly” and has allowed vehicles to “go flying by” making it unpleasant for those who frequent Shell Beach, some walking their dogs.

The Association “have received many boisterous calls and written correspondence from neighbors and others Islanders who regularly visit Shell Beach,” he said. 

“The Shell Beach peninsula is a precious gem on Shelter Island’s waterfront that accesses a bio-diverse natural environment enjoyed by many all year long,” Mr. Sherrod wrote. He said that although the neighbors understand the goal of the paving is to provide some structure and reduce ongoing road maintenance, “the use of milled asphalt appears to be a significant step in the wrong direction.”

Mr. Lewis took little time in responding with a letter dated July 17. “The Highway Department has long recognized the importance of Shell Beach and the surrounding Silver Beach community,” Mr. Lewis wrote. At the same time, he said the Town “has invested significant time and resources into preserving and improving this area through numerous infrastructure and shoreline projects, including the replacement of both the North and South Silver Beach bulkheads, Shell Beach nourishment efforts, Shell Beach groin replacements, roadside tree trimming, roadway drainage improvements, and many other projects intended to protect and preserve this peninsula community,” he said.

Milled asphalt has been used successfully throughout the Island and functions like crushed aggregate or gravel, which is permeable, providing a more stable driving surface than sand alone, according to Mr. Lewis.

“The condition of Shell Beach Road has been a recurring maintenance challenge for many years,” the Highway Superintendent added. “Its location on a narrow peninsula exposed to wind, waves, salt spray and frequent storm events creates an exceptionally harsh environment for an unpaved roadway. The compacted sand surface has historically been prone to rutting, potholes, washouts and displacement of material following rain and wind events. Maintaining the road has required frequent grading and the continual replacement.”

Mr. Sherrod said the Silver Beach Association owns the first 500 feet of the peninsula and should have been consulted before the Highway Department took action to change the roadway. 

Mr. Lewis called removing the milled asphalt “premature,” preventing a proper evaluation of whether it addresses the purpose for which it was used.

“My recommendation is to monitor the roadway over the coming weeks and months, observe its performance through normal weather events and seasonal use, and then reassess whether any modifications are warranted based on performance rather than its initial appearance,” he said.

One Silver Beach resident agreed with him. Former councilman Jim Colligan said he had been vacationing when the dispute arose but thought it wise to let a couple of seasons go by to assess the situation.